Movie Review: Witness the Mayhem and Intrigue of Sony Pictures's 2012

2012 is director Roland Emmerich's latest apocalyptic blockbuster.  Man, this guy refuses to give up on the disaster movie genre. Most directors who are pigeon-holed into a certain genre, would kill to do something different and keep things new and fresh while progessing as an artist. It appears Emmerich never has an ache to create anything that is not an-in-your-face disaster film. To be fair, though most of his works are predictable summertime fare, he does have the whole formula down pat. With the exception of GODZILLA, most of his 'disaster epics' like ID4, DAY AFTER TOMORROW, and now 2012, contain Emmerich's vision and expertise with these productions are well-executed, and include mega-budget special effects, and an in-your-face-pacing and presentation. But I am amazed this guy never wants to break any new ground at this point in his career.

2012 is structured mainly as an ensemble piece, as all the primary and secondary characters come to grips with the fact that the end of the world is near thanks an ancient prophecy that predicts the world will end in the year 2012. The prophecy results in earthquakes, tidal waves, and volcanos laying waste to every country on the globe. The world governments team up and propose a solution to the crisis. Thoughout 2012, the audience witnesses the destruction of The White House, the Jefferson Memorial, the Vatican in Rome, and plenty of other international landmarks. The main characters consist of a family whose father is played by the actor who never ages, John Cusack. There are also several scientific and political types who get caught up the mysteries and intrigue. Most of the characterizations are mired in a stereotypical fashion (as seen in many disaster epics over the years). With the exception of the Cusack and Danny Glover as the president, the acting is typical of Hollywood blockbusters (not good!). But the visuals and rollicking soundtrack are the true stars of this flick, and those aspects of 2012 well done.

Director Emmerich does manage to establish an emotional connection with John Cusack's family who must evade a constant barrage of danger that today's action films portray. In fact, the constant barrage of danger that runs through this two hour plus epic, does not end. Virtually every two minutes, there is a major shake-up, that results in the potential death of men, women, and children. But this does not help the film. This is what plagues most movies produced these days is that every two minutes of film the script has to contian some imminent danger. However, this becomes overkill and loses the few emotional connections established earlier in the film. This formulaic way of mainstream filmmaking is so intrenched in modern culture is not a good thing as it desensitizes the viewer. Sure, the first couple incidents of imminent danger faced by a main character is likely to create sustainable tension, but every other 'gasp' moment quickly becomes weak, which separates the emotional portion from the visible and audible eye candy (the fx work and computer enhanced imagery).

Though 2012 is not a perfect film, the positives outweigh the negatives. Sure, the film is predictable, cliched, poorly-acted, and over-paced, but the director handles the movie's strengths well enough, like the destruction scenes and the permeating aura of doom, that is not always so easy to create in motion pictures. My advice when considering 2012 is that if you are sensitive to this kind of entertainment, with its predictability and bad characterizations, is to avoid it. On the other hand, if you are used to the formulaic conventions that come with mainstream Hollywood filmmaking, and you want to see the mayhem and intrigue of 2012 has to offer, then I recommend you check it out. That is my advice, sensitive types should avoid it.
 

Boston area theaters playing 2012 include:

Showcase Cinemas

AMC Entertainment

Official 2012 Website